Research suggests that prolonged infant crying may increase risk for child physical abuse (CPA). However, few studies have examined behavioral responses to infant crying among parents at risk for CPA. The present study sought to fill this gap by using a simulated infant to examine how mothers and fathers with varying degrees of CPA risk respond to prolonged infant crying. Specifically, a sample of 184 general population caregivers (107 mothers and 77 fathers) participated in a task that involved attempting to soothe a simulated infant that cried continuously for 30 min. The simulated infant sessions were video-recorded, and quality of caregiving behavior was coded in 5-min segments. Participants rated their negative affect (feelings of upset, distress, irritability) at the outset of the data collection session, before beginning the simulated infant task, and after the simulated infant task concluded. It was predicted that high-risk caregivers, compared to low-risk caregivers, would display lower quality caregiving, higher levels of negative affect, and that CPA risk group differences would increase over time. Gender differences were explored in relation to the aforementioned hypotheses. Over the course of the 30-min simulated infant task, the quality of caregiving behavior diminished among both high- and low-risk caregivers. As expected, high-risk caregivers, compared to low-risk caregivers, exhibited lower quality caregiving behaviors and were more likely to discontinue the simulated infant task early. In addition, high-risk, compared to low-risk, caregivers reported higher levels of negative affect throughout the data collection session, with the highest level of negative affect reported by high-risk caregivers after completing the simulated infant task. Overall, the quality of caregiving exhibited by men and women did not significantly differ. The present findings highlight the importance of early intervention designed to support caregivers’ abilities to respond effectively to prolonged infant crying.

研究表明，婴儿长时间哭闹可能会增加儿童身体虐待 (CPA) 的风险。然而，很少有研究调查有 CPA 风险的父母对婴儿哭闹的行为反应。本研究试图通过使用模拟婴儿来填补这一空白，以检查具有不同程度 CPA 风险的母亲和父亲对婴儿长时间哭闹的反应。具体而言，184 名一般人群护理人员（107 名母亲和 77 名父亲）的样本参与了一项任务，该任务涉及试图安抚连续哭泣 30 分钟的模拟婴儿。模拟婴儿会议被录像，护理行为的质量被编码为 5 分钟的片段。参与者在数据收集会议开始时对他们的负面影响（心烦意乱、痛苦、易怒的感觉）进行评级，在开始模拟婴儿任务之前，以及在模拟婴儿任务结束之后。据预测，与低风险护理人员相比，高风险护理人员的护理质量较低，负面影响水平较高，并且 CPA 风险组差异会随着时间的推移而增加。根据上述假设探讨了性别差异。在 30 分钟的模拟婴儿任务过程中，高风险和低风险护理人员的护理行为质量均有所下降。正如预期的那样，与低风险护理人员相比，高风险护理人员表现出较低质量的护理行为，并且更有可能提前停止模拟婴儿任务。此外，与低风险相比，高风险护理人员在整个数据收集过程中报告了更高水平的负面影响，在完成模拟婴儿任务后，高风险护理人员报告的负面影响水平最高。总体而言，男性和女性所表现出的照料质量没有显着差异。目前的研究结果强调了旨在支持护理人员有效应对婴儿长时间哭泣的能力的早期干预的重要性。